Graphics retailer grows turnover by 60%

Online graphics supplies business GraphicsDirect.co.uk has increased turnover by 60 per cent to over £1.6m in the year to April 2012.

The firm that operates from warehouse and offices at Tockwith, near Wetherby, has grown to be one of the UK’s leading specialist suppliers of graphics materials to Design studios, Universities, Colleges, Schools, individual artists and students since its launch in 1998.

Founders Chris Booth and Paul Hawkridge, who started the GraphicsDirect.co.uk business from a farm shed outside Knaresborough, have expanded the company to employ a total of eight staff including sales executives, web designers and warehouse staff.

Director Chris Booth said

We have grown our share in the graphics supplies market, but also we have started to deliver e-commerce and fulfilment services for other graphics brands, which has utilised our warehousing and staff more effectively, as well as generating additional revenues.

Both business customers and consumer are actively looking for better and better value on every purchase they make, and our online model does benefit from this trend. As people seek out the lowest cost items online, we are attracting new customers organically, which is great.

The economy is such that you need to keep looking for new ways to utilise your skills, people and facilities or you will only stand still. We have a number of potential new areas of growth, and we are keen to keep working hard and investing in the business to keep it growing and to take advantage of our recent successes.

There are 1,600 graphics products available on the website including best-selling lines by 3M, Pantone, Letraset and Rotring, and the firm ships to more than 15,000 customers each year.

Director Paul Hawkridge said:

From our beginnings as a local value alternative to high street graphics outlets, we have grown to become the preferred supplier to hundreds of schools and further and higher education centres, and we are seeing more and more opportunities in the market despite the tough economy.

The company is planning further expansion in 2012 and the directors remain open-minded about further diversification following the success of the recent fulfilment deal.